title: Recognition memory for novel syntactic structures.
abstract: It is commonly held that recognition memory for the surface syntax of language is not robust, especially when compared with memory for gist (e.g., Potter & Lombardi, 1998; Sachs, 1967). Nevertheless, it has been reported that memory for surface syntax occurs and can be surprisingly robust (e.g., Gurevich, Johnson, & Goldberg, 2011). However, most studies have focused on recognition memory for syntactic structures present in participants' native languages, but little is known about memory for novel (e.g., nonnative) syntactic structures. Adults were exposed under incidental learning conditions to a semiartificial language consisting of English words placed into non-English syntactic structures derived from Persian. They were then given an unexpected recognition memory test. Participants demonstrated clear recognition memory for novel syntactic structures. Overall, the results suggest that memory for surface syntax can be acquired under incidental learning conditions, consistent with previous findings in the implicit learning literature using nonlinguistic stimuli. The results also suggest that basic memory processes like those investigated in the recognition memory literature may be involved in the incidental learning of novel syntactic structures, consistent with some current neurocognitive approaches to language (e.g., Ullman, 2004).
authors.affiliation: Language and Cognition Research Laboratory, Department of English, Kent State University.
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hamrick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D032882:Comprehension / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D012660:Semantics; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult